Cheating on Homework...Just stop grading it!

I just read this amazing study done with MIT Calculus-Based Physics classes.
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.6.010104

The basics are that students using the Pearson online system, MasteringPhysics, were assigned problems. The system measures how long it takes for a student to answer the problem, and they decided students who answered in less time than it takes to read the problem were copying from someone else. They coupled this with some qualitative information from surveys.

The results are not too surprising. Students who copied got lower scores on the test questions that were similar to the homework problems. Students also copied more as the deadline for the assignment got closer. Interestingly, the amount of copying did not have a significant effect on the Mechanics Baseline Test learning differences.

I have been a stamp the work teacher for years. Students get a stamp for getting ALL of the problems done on the page. They may be wrong, but they must be done. This is to ensure that they are prepared to discuss the assignment, or at least follow the discussion. What about the kid who did as much of the assignment on his/her own, but didn't have time for the last few. Tough patooty. No Stamp For You!

What about the kid who copied it in the morning or five minutes before class from a buddy? They are rewarded with the full points. I justified it by saying they would lose points on the tests. I think I secretly wanted them to lose points on the tests as penance for their cheating. Jesus, what am I doing?

Homework is not graded anymore.

Teacher Endurance

After 10 years I should know what to expect. What amazes me is that I always forget. I am tired. It is unreal how much teaching endurance I have lost over the summer. One complaint you will hear form teachers is that their voice goes south on them. Luckily, I do not talk enough to my students to make that happen. I try to let them do most of the teaching, or they are busy with an activity. I forget how much energy it takes to manage five different sets of 30 students for an hour each while still making it exciting, fun, entertaining, and even academic. I actually fell asleep on the couch at 8:30 pm when my normal bed time is 11:00 pm. I was shocked when I woke up to say the least.

I think I need to do a study next year on the endurance training that teachers put themselves through in the first two weeks. I wonder if I can become a consultant or something. I can develop a training plan much like runner have for a marathon. The goal is to avoid the need to go to sleep 2-3 hours early for those first few weeks. Hmmm, interesting...anyone ready to give me a grant? :)

Survival Mode

Over the past week I have been a part of some wonderful presentations and discussions about the use of technology in the classroom, been asked to consider producing an online course using the Blackboard program, and brought up to speed with how I should help students read in my physics classroom.

Why do I get all this great stuff at the same point that I am in survival mode?  I want to digest, research, and integrate the cool stuff I just heard about, but students return in seven days.  The only thing on my mind right now is the first day followed by the first 2-4 weeks.

I understand that the timing of this is dictated by our contract if we want to be paid for it.  Maybe by next semester or next summer I will have the time to fully integrate criterion-based grading or establish rubrics for reading for understanding or put all of my physics online.  I don't want to sound like a whiner.  In all actuality, I am going to attempt to do these things during the year.  It just makes me sad that I will not be able to dedicate the time necessary to bring it to the level that I want.

Suggestion:  Have an optional (non-paid) session during the summer.  This would allow more teachers the time to think about, research, and build into their curriculum in a purposeful way.  Or even create a 1-2 week summer course that is dedicated to integrating these new ideas into the classroom.  I just remembered why it is a leap of faith to put an idea out there.  I might just leap right into being responsible for it.